Greatwyrm Posted November 10, 2004 Report Share Posted November 10, 2004 Okay, I admit I'm a little weird. I like superheroes. I like supers movies and cartoons. I just don't like comics all that much. It's really not even that I don't like comics, I just don't like having a single story spread over months or even years. I've recently discovered the wonderful world of graphic novels and trade paperback collections. So, what would you recommend I should pick up? I'm especially looking for stuff that's particularly representative of certain characters (e.g. If you only read one Captain America story, get this...) or stuff that's "groundbreaking" (which I'm led to believe The Watchmen is). I've already been sold on Batman: Dark Knight Returns and The Watchmen . Any other suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nero Craft Posted November 10, 2004 Report Share Posted November 10, 2004 Re: "Essential" Graphic Novels / Trade Paperbacks I'm really partial to Daredevil: Born Again.......which is labeled as Daredevil Legends Vol. 2. currently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyendasky80 Posted November 10, 2004 Report Share Posted November 10, 2004 Re: "Essential" Graphic Novels / Trade Paperbacks Kingdom Come Astro City (Confession/Tarnished Angel) Ultimate Spider-Man Hardcovers (in order) Avengers Forever Daredevil: Born Again Rising Stars (in order) I'll think of more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackalope Posted November 11, 2004 Report Share Posted November 11, 2004 Re: "Essential" Graphic Novels / Trade Paperbacks I'm going to put in a third vote for Daredevil: Born Again. Definetely a Must Read, and it has a high degree of re-readability. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyendasky80 Posted November 11, 2004 Report Share Posted November 11, 2004 Re: "Essential" Graphic Novels / Trade Paperbacks I second that third vote and offer my second vote to make four. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren Watts Posted November 11, 2004 Report Share Posted November 11, 2004 Re: "Essential" Graphic Novels / Trade Paperbacks Squadron Supreme (the Gruenwald stories from the mid-80s.) V For Vendetta and the Miracleman and Swamp Thing collections by Alan Moore. The various JLA, JSA and Starman collections from DC. dw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bblackmoor Posted November 11, 2004 Report Share Posted November 11, 2004 Re: "Essential" Graphic Novels / Trade Paperbacks I don't know if it's ever been collected into a graphic novel, but V For Vendetta is one of my all-time favorite miniseries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyendasky80 Posted November 11, 2004 Report Share Posted November 11, 2004 Re: "Essential" Graphic Novels / Trade Paperbacks JSA and Starman are both thick with continuity, it probably won't be as appealing to a brand new reader as it is to us hardcore addicts. JLA suffers from this to a lesser degree (depending on which trade you buy) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Mhoram Posted November 11, 2004 Report Share Posted November 11, 2004 Re: "Essential" Graphic Novels / Trade Paperbacks Kingdom Come Astro City (Confession/Tarnished Angel) Ultimate Spider-Man Hardcovers (in order) Avengers Forever Rising Stars (in order) I'll think of more. I'll second everthing listed above, except Avengers forever. I am a fairly decent avengers fan, and that story left me lost and confused. And as much as I love Busiek, it was not very good. Likely his worst work (which still makes it better than most but definately not in an "essential" collection. I'd add the other Astro City Trades (Life in the Big City and Family Album) I'd also add Marvels - The history of the Marvel U seen throught the eyes of a newsman/photographer. Written by Busiek and painted by Alex Ross. I'd second the JSA trades. Johns has a talent for writing continuity heavy stuff without losing the new reader. The JLA trades - just go for the Rock of Ages and whichever one is the invasion trade that was the start up of the Morrison run. Teen Titans - The Judas Contract. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Mhoram Posted November 11, 2004 Report Share Posted November 11, 2004 Re: "Essential" Graphic Novels / Trade Paperbacks Oh yeah and Eyendasky80's sigline reminded me. The Ultimates Volume one and two. The Ultimate Spiderman (start with the first couple and see if you like them) - I've never been much of a spiderman fan, but I've really enjoyed the USM. Edited for spelling - in the word Ultimate the "t" comes before the "i" - *sigh* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Mhoram Posted November 11, 2004 Report Share Posted November 11, 2004 Re: "Essential" Graphic Novels / Trade Paperbacks Squadron Supreme (the Gruenwald stories from the mid-80s.) Now there is a writer who really got into his comics. Sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corven_Ren Posted November 11, 2004 Report Share Posted November 11, 2004 Re: "Essential" Graphic Novels / Trade Paperbacks Spider Man: Kraven's Last Hunt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egyptian Posted November 11, 2004 Report Share Posted November 11, 2004 Re: "Essential" Graphic Novels / Trade Paperbacks V for Vendetta: The best Punisher story to not feature the Punisher The Essential books, especially Essential Fantastic Four and Essential Spider-Man: It's almost inexcusable for anyone interested in a Silver Age style game to not own a few of these books. Batman-The Long Halloween: One of the best Batman stories in recent memory, possibly a more definitive Batman tale than Dark Knight Returns. No, really. Green Lantern-Emerald Dawn: It's because of stories like this that fans have been begging for Hal Jordan's return for years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Mhoram Posted November 11, 2004 Report Share Posted November 11, 2004 Re: "Essential" Graphic Novels / Trade Paperbacks The Essential books, especially Essential Fantastic Four and Essential Spider-Man: It's almost inexcusable for anyone interested in a Silver Age style game to not own a few of these books. And if they were printed in color, I'd be all over then. I don't want to buy a coloring book. I want these, but I hate reprints that change something that basic - It is a sin as bad as colorizing old B&W movies, so I don't buy them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megaplayboy Posted November 11, 2004 Report Share Posted November 11, 2004 Re: "Essential" Graphic Novels / Trade Paperbacks Graphic Novels: The Death of Captain Marvel X-Men: god Loves, man kills trades: Essential What If? (not sure if this is out or not, but it SHOULD be) any of the Elseworlds stuff Kingdom Come Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
proditor Posted November 11, 2004 Report Share Posted November 11, 2004 Re: "Essential" Graphic Novels / Trade Paperbacks Now there is a writer who really got into his comics. Sorry. Ewwww....although it did make me glad I waited to get the graphic novel in it's SECOND printing, sans remains. That was just a little too creepy for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Korvar Posted November 11, 2004 Report Share Posted November 11, 2004 Re: "Essential" Graphic Novels / Trade Paperbacks Ewwww....although it did make me glad I waited to get the graphic novel in it's SECOND printing' date=' sans remains. That was just a little too creepy for me.[/quote'] Uh, what? Me confused! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Mhoram Posted November 11, 2004 Report Share Posted November 11, 2004 Re: "Essential" Graphic Novels / Trade Paperbacks Uh' date=' what? Me confused! [/quote'] Mark Gruenwald, when he died had himself creamated and had the ashes added to the ink of the first edition of the the Squadron Supreme trade paperback - he felt it was his greatest contribution to comics, and wanted to show that some way. So in the first editions of the print, the ink has the remains of the writer in it. I thought it was a interesting, almost bordering on the cool, gesture -but viscerally, well, as proditor said eeewwwww. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
st barbara Posted November 12, 2004 Report Share Posted November 12, 2004 Re: "Essential" Graphic Novels / Trade Paperbacks I'd add "Camelot 3000"and "Watchmen"to the list if no-one else has ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDU Neil Posted November 12, 2004 Report Share Posted November 12, 2004 Re: "Essential" Graphic Novels / Trade Paperbacks I'd agree with nearly all of these... but for my money... The Ultimate Marvel line... the Ultimate X-Men has only gotten better with each graphic novel. I don't buy the individual comics, just the GN. Same with all the Ultimate comics. Ultimate Spider-Man Ultimates Ultimate Daredevil/Elektra Ultimate Fantastic Four even Ultimate Marvel Team-up This is the Marvel universe rewritten, with relatively tight continuity, and a very modern sensibility. I haven't enjoyed Marvel like this since the early, mid-80s. Any of the GNs by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale... ... from DC Batman Long Halloween, Batman Dark Victory and Superman: For All Seasons ... from Marvel, Daredevil Yellow and Spider-Man Blue From Wildstorm... highly recommend the Ellis Stormwatch Graphic Novels, and then the first two Authority Graphic Novels (done by Ellis) don't bother reading Authority after Ellis left ... also Sleeper Season 1 comes in two Graphic Novels... season two is coming out right now, and will eventually be collected in two GNs as well From Marvel... The Exiles... Currently seven different GNs, and really solid Marvel stories that don't have to worry about continuity, because they are all about alternate dimension travel. Great stuff... great characterization, but the art gets "eh" later in the series. Get Crisis On Infinite Earths from DC, just to see what a complete "UNIVERSE REBOOT" should look like. That was such a classic, great story... it's too bad they couldn't maintain editorial control and continuity afterwards. I'd actually encourage you to pick up all 9 of the current Daredevil GNs. They are labled with numbers, except for the first one which is the worst, because it was written by Kevin Smith... the Bendis stuff that follows is brilliant. (And tying into that... pick up Bendis' Alias as well. This is not the TV show, but a tight, adult comic based in the Marvel Universe that shows a retired superheroine trying to make it as a PI. Really good stuff.) I'm sure I'm forgetting many... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyendasky80 Posted November 12, 2004 Report Share Posted November 12, 2004 Re: "Essential" Graphic Novels / Trade Paperbacks I'd second the JSA trades. Johns has a talent for writing continuity heavy stuff without losing the new reader. The JLA trades - just go for the Rock of Ages and whichever one is the invasion trade that was the start up of the Morrison run. . People who like continuity always say that, but being continuity heavy even if it is well written, means that a new reader with no comic experience is missing a piece. It's a good book, but his money would be better spent on more "definitive" books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greatwyrm Posted November 13, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 13, 2004 Re: "Essential" Graphic Novels / Trade Paperbacks Thanks for the tips, everybody. Looks like I've got some reading ahead of me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted November 13, 2004 Report Share Posted November 13, 2004 Re: "Essential" Graphic Novels / Trade Paperbacks Anything by Will Eisner is good, but they're not super-hero related. His graphic novels are very enjoyable reads. The Spirit Archives are pricy at 49.95 each, but they're worth every penny. Not being a true comic book fan, that's about the extent of my comics reading. lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Mhoram Posted November 13, 2004 Report Share Posted November 13, 2004 Re: "Essential" Graphic Novels / Trade Paperbacks I'd add "Camelot 3000" to the list if no-one else has ! Seconded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Mhoram Posted November 13, 2004 Report Share Posted November 13, 2004 Re: "Essential" Graphic Novels / Trade Paperbacks People who like continuity always say that' date=' but being continuity heavy even if it is well written, means that a new reader with no comic experience is missing a piece. It's a good book, but his money would be better spent on more "definitive" books.[/quote'] I've had two reader at the comic shop I work at who read JSA, but have never really touched DC love it, and comment that they like the fact that they feel they are coming into an ongoing saga, and that Johns writes in such a way as to not make them lost, or feel as if they are missing anything. But I do see your point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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